I’ve been in my hometown for two weeks now and have settled
in while trying to balance the overwhelming urge to see everyone and do
everything possible while resting enough to stay upright.

It’s hard fighting the panic that shouts
“this is the last time you will see so-and-so for another year,” and makes me buy all the American
things because they are so much cheaper than in Australia. “Of course you need seven
mascaras! They are a third of the cost!”

Every once in a while I have to remind myself to stop, if my
body doesn’t remind me first by getting sick or falling asleep at 8:00PM.
One of the main things that makes me focus are seeing people who
are important to me, like my brother.

My bro and I have not lived in the same city in over a
decade but I always miss him. We tortured one another growing up but he’s been along for the ride with me longer than anyone.

For the first time in years we are both at home, without our
respective spouses so naturally we decided to do something a little whimsical.

One: Brother Sister Matching Tattoos

My brother and I grew up watching The Goonies. Putting on a
VHS flick was one guaranteed way we would get along for at least 90 minutes. So
in the spirit of pirates and One-Eyed-Willy we have gotten matching SailorJerry clipper
ships. And taking from the classic SJ flash the word 'Homeward' in the banner
underneath. To Eric and I, it represents our relationship because even though we are
separated, we will always make our way home to one another, even if only
figuratively.

Two: The Kooks Are Out

I started listening to The Kooks when I lived in Amsterdam, my favorite city, their
album Inside In The Inside Out will always remind me of one of the best times in my life. It’s poetic that I took along Michelle
who was my colleague, flat mate and best friend in Amster. I had tickets to see
the band twice before to no avail. The first time, I was pregnant and mixed up
the dates (damn baby brain!) the second time we had an overnight wedding
and had to sell our tickets (the wedding was wonderful and worth it!) When I FINALLY
saw The Kooks at The Rapids Theater in Niagara Falls,USA
I stood two rows away from the stage and rock out like I was one of
the other 18 year olds in the venue. Totally worth the wait.

Three: Backyard Beauty

I didn’t grow up in the house my Mother and Stepfather share
but it reminds me of my childhood home, especially how the backyard buttresses
the woods behind it. Watching my daughter run around in the golden light of the summer evenings fills my heart with a mixture of joy and melancholy. We have escaped the middle of a Melbourne Winter but also left behind
my husband, her Dad. And then I start thinking about how she won’t ever have the same memories growing up as I did. Perhaps I should brush up on my memory and my storytelling.

Four: A Caffeine-Fueled Painting Afternoon

I’m incredibly lucky that my mother is an interior designer
and she wants to populate some of her projects with my artwork. Whoa!! All of the
sudden I’m a commissioned artist!!?! I worried that I’m not “professional” enough
to sell my work. My husband said to me “What makes any artist a
professional? You studied art, you make art, and people want to pay you for it.” He has
a point.

Friday, June 26, 2015

One + Four = Life: Homeward

I’ve been in my hometown for two weeks now and have settled
in while trying to balance the overwhelming urge to see everyone and do
everything possible while resting enough to stay upright.

It’s hard fighting the panic that shouts
“this is the last time you will see so-and-so for another year,” and makes me buy all the American
things because they are so much cheaper than in Australia. “Of course you need seven
mascaras! They are a third of the cost!”

Every once in a while I have to remind myself to stop, if my
body doesn’t remind me first by getting sick or falling asleep at 8:00PM.
One of the main things that makes me focus are seeing people who
are important to me, like my brother.

My bro and I have not lived in the same city in over a
decade but I always miss him. We tortured one another growing up but he’s been along for the ride with me longer than anyone.

For the first time in years we are both at home, without our
respective spouses so naturally we decided to do something a little whimsical.

One: Brother Sister Matching Tattoos

My brother and I grew up watching The Goonies. Putting on a
VHS flick was one guaranteed way we would get along for at least 90 minutes. So
in the spirit of pirates and One-Eyed-Willy we have gotten matching SailorJerry clipper
ships. And taking from the classic SJ flash the word 'Homeward' in the banner
underneath. To Eric and I, it represents our relationship because even though we are
separated, we will always make our way home to one another, even if only
figuratively.

Two: The Kooks Are Out

I started listening to The Kooks when I lived in Amsterdam, my favorite city, their
album Inside In The Inside Out will always remind me of one of the best times in my life. It’s poetic that I took along Michelle
who was my colleague, flat mate and best friend in Amster. I had tickets to see
the band twice before to no avail. The first time, I was pregnant and mixed up
the dates (damn baby brain!) the second time we had an overnight wedding
and had to sell our tickets (the wedding was wonderful and worth it!) When I FINALLY
saw The Kooks at The Rapids Theater in Niagara Falls,USA
I stood two rows away from the stage and rock out like I was one of
the other 18 year olds in the venue. Totally worth the wait.

Three: Backyard Beauty

I didn’t grow up in the house my Mother and Stepfather share
but it reminds me of my childhood home, especially how the backyard buttresses
the woods behind it. Watching my daughter run around in the golden light of the summer evenings fills my heart with a mixture of joy and melancholy. We have escaped the middle of a Melbourne Winter but also left behind
my husband, her Dad. And then I start thinking about how she won’t ever have the same memories growing up as I did. Perhaps I should brush up on my memory and my storytelling.

Four: A Caffeine-Fueled Painting Afternoon

I’m incredibly lucky that my mother is an interior designer
and she wants to populate some of her projects with my artwork. Whoa!! All of the
sudden I’m a commissioned artist!!?! I worried that I’m not “professional” enough
to sell my work. My husband said to me “What makes any artist a
professional? You studied art, you make art, and people want to pay you for it.” He has
a point.